Pakistani police Wednesday stepped up security in the capital Islamabad after a series of explosions in the southern port city of Karachi and deployed police commandos at all sensitive places to avoid any untoward situation.  

A meeting of senior police officials was held immediately after the explosions to review security measures and to avoid any disturbance in the capital, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

A police source was quoted as saying that red alert was declared around the southeast Diplomatic Enclave where most of foreign missions are located and the number of security personnel was doubled at all the pickets there.

Security personnel were patrolling in the adjacent forest and mountains while the special Anti-terrorist Squad was patrolling to ensure complete safety in and around the Diplomatic Enclave.

The capital police were also alerted at the entry and exit points of the capital and directed to keep an eye on the suspected elements.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid condemned the blasts, saying the terrorists have made Pakistan a target of their activities to create chaos in the country. However, the blasts will not shake the government's resolve against terrorism, said the minister.

Serial blasts occurred within one hour on Wednesday afternoon in Karachi near the Pak-American Culture Center, which killed two and injured 27 others including three senior police officers, 10 journalists and photographers who were at the site of the first blast to cover the event.

No one claimed responsibility for the blasts.

The law-enforcement agencies in Karachi have recently arrested several members of a defunct extremist group named Harkatul Jihad al-Alami, which was blamed for masterminding attack two years ago on the life of President Pervez Musharraf.

Karachi has seen deadly bomb blasts in recent weeks. About 20 people were killed and up to 100 injured in a mosque blast early this month. On Tuesday evening, at least two people were killed and several others injured by a parcel bomb in the Karachi port area.

2 killed in serial blasts in Karachi

Two car bomb blasts occurred in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, on Wednesday, killing at least two persons and injuring 27 others.

Local police said that the victims included three high-profile police personnel and 10 journalists.

As a number of the injured are in critical conditions, the death toll might keep rising, said the police.

The blasts happened near the Pak-American Cultural Center within one hour in the afternoon.

The devices were hidden in cars and the residence of the United States Consul General is also located in the area, local media reported earlier.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2004)